Cordillera health department advocates for safe holiday celebrations

OPLAN PAALALA: IWAS PAPUTOK 2022. The Cordillera regional health department along with its attached agencies urge the public to celebrate the holiday season safely in a press briefing on Monday, December 19, 2022 sponsored by the Cordillera Association of Regional Executives (CARE)..The region has taken steps to reduce the number of firework-related injuries in recent years and is aiming for zero injuries this year. ABOVE: City Health Services Office medical officer Donnabel Panes makes sure that they bring their services closer to the people who sustain injuries related to fireworks while in the territorial jurisdiction of Baguio by having people report their injuries. (Merriam del Rosario,FNS)

BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera regional health department has called on the public to celebrate the holiday season safely and to prevent injuries, particularly those related to fireworks.

In a press briefing on Monday, December 19, 2022, Department of Health – Center for Health Development – Cordillera (DOH-CHD-CAR) director Rio L. Magpantay stated that the region has recorded a total of 66 firework-related injury cases during the five-year period from 2017 to 2021.

The most common cause of injury was firework use, while firework ingestion and stray bullet injuries were the least common.

The province of Abra recorded the highest number of firework-related injury (FWRI) cases with 24, while the province of Ifugao had the fewest with only five.

The city of Baguio recorded eight cases during this five-year period.

The FWRI cases involved 47 active and 19 passive, mostly males, the youngest affected was 11mos. in 2018 and the oldest was 74yo. in 2020.

Magpantay said the most common firework used during the five-year period was “kwitis”, although the recorded data revealed that there were more banned fireworks that were used.

He said that of the 65 cases of firework injury and ingestion recorded, 34 resulted from the use of banned fireworks.

“Boga”, “piccolo”, and oversized firecrackers are banned, Magpantay said.

The Director also said that there were two amputations recorded in 2019 (finger amputation in Mountain Province and Kalinga), which were both active cases, meaning the fireworks or firecrackers were handled by the affected persons themselves (inactive cases mean the injuries sustained were not caused by the affected persons).

Magpantay also shared tips for a safe and injury-free holiday celebration, including staying at home to prevent lung-related diseases, being careful with food preparation and handling, and paying attention to blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

The department has also enhanced its surveillance system for FWRIs and will be providing services to those who may sustain injuries during the holiday season.

He also shared the department’s tagline: “Ligtas Christmas sa healthy Pilipinas: Magdiwang nang kumpleto at ligtas”.

“Let us all be informed and let us all follow the advice of the health authorities,” Magpantay said.

For her part, City Health Services Office medical officer Donnabel Tubera-Panes said that the city is prepared for the whole holiday season, while sympathizing for the 889 people in Baguio who did not make it during the pandemic.

Panes said that Sanitation Inspectors are going around, looking at food safety and sanitation as they want to make sure that the food served are prepared safely.

She called on caterers to serve the food within two hours of preparation to avoid spoilage.

Panes also said that they are on guard against infectious diseases going along with COVID-19 that they call the “tridemic”, which includes the flu and some respiratory disease while moving on with the holiday celebrations.

“We remind everyone to keep warm…because the immune system goes really bad when temperature is not in the optimum,” Panes said.

Panes also said that they have enhanced their surveillance system for FWRIs wanting to make sure that they bring their services closer to the people who sustain injuries related to fireworks while in the territorial jurisdiction of Baguio.

“Report your injuries and then we can check on where you are, validate the statements you posted, then we can give you the service where you are,” Panes said.

According to Panes, the city is encouraging the use of community fireworks displays manned by a pyrotechnician instead of individual use.

She said this is part of the city’s efforts to promote safety and prevent injuries during the holiday season.

In addition to this, city health officials are advocating for the use of masks and vaccination as two important measures to protect against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

“If you are in a crowded place and you cannot maintain one meter distance, put on a mask,” Panes said.

They are encouraging those who have already been vaccinated to check their vaccination records and ensure that they are up to date, as city vaccinators will not be taking a holiday during the Christmas season.

These measures are being implemented in an effort to keep the community safe and healthy during the holiday season. ###